Cleaning and reeling mechanism for strip stock



July 21, 1959 2,895,489

CLEANING AND REELING MECHANISM FOR sm? sTocx y E. Ar-TOUST 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Flevd April |18, 1955 July 21, 1959 E. A; FousT 2,395,489

CLEANING AND REELING NECHANISN NoN STRIP sTocx Filed April 1s, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

July 21, 1959 E. AL'FousT 2,895,489 CLEANING- AND REELING MECHANISM FOR STRIP sTocK FnedvAprii 1s, 1955 4 sheets-sheet a INVENTOR. l

United States Patent CLEANING AND REELING MECHANISM FOR STRIP STOCK Eugene A. Fouet, Hagerstown, lud., assgnor to Perfect Circle Corporation, Hagerstown, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,860

4 Claims. (Cl. 134-57) The invention relates generally -to means for handling strip stock as it is continuously fed from a forming machine or the like, and more particularly to a mechanism for carrying the stock through a cleaning bath and thence to a means for winding the stock on a reel.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel cleaning and reeling mechanism for strip stock which is stretchable, the mechanism being automatically controlled to maintain passage of the stock through the cleaning bath and thence iwinding the stock on a reel Without stretching the stock.

More specifically it is an object to provide a novel cleaning and reeling mechanism for stretchable strip stock, by means of which the stock as it comes from the forming machine is permitted to sag sufficiently `to dip into a cleaning bath without any substantial tension on the stock and then to be drawn to a reeling means, the latter being automatically controlled so that the slack in the stock is never taken up and the stock continues to pass through the cleaning bath.

A further `object is to provide a novel cleaning and reeling mechanism of the foregoing character, in which the reeling means is controlled by variations in the slack in the stock but is prevented from being energized and de-energized too frequently.

Another object is to provide a novel cleaning and reeling mechanism for strip stock, in which the stock is dried after passing through the cleaning bath and before it is reeled, `and in which the stock is Wound in even layers on the reel so that it will not tangle when withdrawn fo further operations on it. t

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning and reeling mechanism `embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of a portion of a strip of material of the type lfor which the present mechanism is adapted; l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the reeling portion of the mechanism at the opposite side from that shown in Fig. l;

lfig. 4 is a perspective View of the rear of the reeling mechanism; and i Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing thecontrol of the drive for the reeling means.

The mechanism disclosed herein is adapted for use with strip stock of a stretchable nature and is adapted to cause the stock to pass through a cleaning bath and then to be wound on a reel, without causing any stretching of the stock. While the mechanism may be used with various specific forms of such stock, in the present instance it is illustrated as being adapted to handle stock from which expander springs for piston ring assemblies are made. A fragmentary length of such stock is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and it comprises a plurality of web members which are bent into a `U shape` 11 tates the conversion of the intermittent motion of the l and are connected at their respective ends `by two rows of segments 11, the segments in the two rows being in staggered relation so as to form a continuous expansible or stretchable strip of material, the web member 10 flexing cdgewise relative to each other on expansion or contraction of the strip. The segments at their `edges are bent to provide flanges l2. A strip of this character, when cut into a predetermined length and formed into a circle, is utilized as a combined spacer and expander for a pair of thin washer-like elements known as railsf In order that an expander of this character may operate properly, each expander has a predetermined number of web members 10 and segments 11 and is set to a predetermined circumferential length in order to exert a predetermined outward pressure on the rails when placed in a groove in a piston within a cylinder. For that reason, in the forming and subequent handling of the strip in making such expanders, the unit or pitch length of the strip must be carefully controlled. The strip is formed by punching transverse slots therein and then bending it along longitudinally extending lines, and the strip as it comes olf the forming machine will thus inherently have a predetermined pitch or unit length. Such pitch or unit length may be that which is desired for the finished expander, although in the present instance it is found to be preferable to stretch the stock during a heat-treating operation thereon. This `operation occurs after the forming, and the stock is maintained in the same condition in which it is discharged from the forming machine, 'without any stretching until it reaches the above-mentioned heat-treating operation.

The stock during forming is covered with oil to facilitate the forming operations and such oil, along with the accumulation of any dirt or chips, must be removed before the stock undergoes the heat treating operation. For production reasons, it is desirable to wind the stock on reels for transfer to the subsequent operation such as the heat treating operation.

The present mechanism is arranged to receive the stock from the forming machine, submit it to a lcleaning operation, Iand then wind it on a suitable reel. Since the stock must not be stretched during such. handling and since it is diilicult and impracticable to maintain the speed of the reeling means the same as the rate at which the stock is discharged from the forming machine, the present mechanism involves careful control of the reeling means without placing anytension on the stock. The forming machine, in the present instance, is of a type in which the stock is fed into the machine for a given length, the feeding of the stock is then stopped to permit performance of the forming operation, and the stock is then advanced through a similar increment. The discharge from the forming machine `thus may be said to be intermittent. Inreeling, it is desirable to have the reel operate continuously, except for periods of automatic adjustment, so that `the intermittent movement of the stock as it comes olf the forming machine is converted into continuous movement of the stock when placed on the reel.` t

Since the stock must not be stretched and consequently no substantial tension can be placed thereon, it cannot be caused to move through a cleaning bath by means of submerging rolls because of the friction involved and the consequent tension that would be necessary on the stock for such mode of handling. It is therefore desirable,` in orderto minimize any chance of tension being placedon the stock, to permit it to sag between the forming machine and the reeling mechanism so that it can merely dip into a cleaning bath without substantial ten-` sion on the stock. `The sagging arrangement also facilistock as it leaves the forming machine to the continuous motion as it is placed on the reel.

The present mechanism provides for a predetermined amount of sag in the stock and is provided with a means which is highly sensitive to any change in the amount of sag to control the reeling mechanism. The reeling mechanism is driven by an electric motor, the control ofvvhich is responsive to variations in the sag of the stock, but means is included in the control circuit of the motor to prevent the motor from being turned on and oft too frequently. The mechanism also includes means for drying the stock after it passes through the cleaning solution to avoid corrosion when placed onl the reel, as well as means for winding the stock in even layers on the reel so that itV will not become tangled and cause diflculty later when it is withdrawn therefrom. l

In the drawings, the stock is shown as being discharged from a forming machine indicated fragmentarily at 20 (seeFig. 1). To permit the stock to sag .without catching on the discharge portion ofthe forming machine 2th, it is arranged to be passed through a bent tube 21 which directs the stock downwardly at an angle toward a bath of cleaning solution 22 contained in an open-top tank 23. The stock sags suiciently to cause a substantial portion of the length of the stock to dip into the cleaning solution 22, the stock then Vmoving to a reel 24 to be wound thereon. To cause the stock to be wound in even layers on the reel 24, a level wind device, indicated generally at 25, is provided. As the stock moves through the level wind device 25, air is blown thereon to dry up any cleaning solution remaining on the stock at that point.

The reel 24 and its driving and control means, as well as the level wind device, are preferably carried on a table 26 having legs 27. The tank 23 is positioned below the level both of the discharge tube 21 of the forming machine and of the reel '24 so that the stock is free to sag therebetween and dip into the cleaning solution 22 in the tank 23. The reel 24 is adapted to be supported on the table 26 by a pair of end plates 30 and 31 extending upwardly from the top of the table and rigidly secured thereto as by angle irons 32. The plate 370 supports one end of the reel 24 by means of a block 33 (see Figs. 3 and 4) mounted on the inner tace of the plate 30 and having a U-shaped notch in its upper surface to receive a trunnion (not shown) extending from the end of the reel. The other end of the reel is supported by means which also effects drive thereof. Thus, the reel at that end is provided with a socket adapted to t over a shaft 34 (see Fig. 4) which has a cross pin 35 adapted to fit into a notch formed in the end of the socketV means on the reel. The shaft 34 is journalled in a housing 36 carried by the plate 31. Thus, a reel may be removably and rotatably mounted on the table 26 between the end plates 30 and 31.

To drive the reel 24, a driving means comprising an electric motor 40 is mounted on a shelf 41 extending between the legs 27 of the table. The motor 40 is connected to an adjustable variable speed drive 42 which is provided with a handle 43 by means of which the ratio of speed reduction may be adjusted. The variable speed drive 42 has an output shaft 44 (see Fig. 3) provided with a sprocket 45 connected by a chain drive 46 to a sprocket 47 journalled on a shaft 50 rotatably supported at its ends and extending between the two end plates 30 and 31. The sprocket 47 is mounted on the shaft v50 adjacent the outer face of the plate 31. Rigidly connected to the sprocket v47 is a second sprocket 51 which is connected by a cahin drive 52 to a sprocket 53 carried on the shaft 34 which supports and drives the reel 24. An idler sprocket .54 is adjustably mounted on the end plate 31 to maintainY the desired tension in the chain drive 52. Thus, reel 24 is driven by the motor 40 through the variable speed drive 42, and the speed ofu rotation of the reel 24'may be varied by adjustment of the handle 43 on thevariable speed drive.

The level wind device 25 is slidably supported on a rodv 55 extending between the end plates 3@ and 31 and located above and parallel to the shaft 50. The level wind device is a well-known mechanism and comprises Shiftable pawl means (not shown) adapted to cooperate with a pair of oppositely directed threads 56 which in this instance are formed on the shaft 50. At each end of the threaded portion 56 of the shaft 50 is a sleeve 57 having an end surface adjacent the threads which causes camming action on the pawl means to reverse the direction of movement of the` level wind device 25. By means of the reverse threads 56, the level wind device 25 is adapted to be moved back and forth parallel to the reel and causes the stock to be wound in even layers on the reel 24. The level wind device 25 carries the guide block 60 through which the stock passes in moving toward the reel 24. Since a level wind device of this character is well known, further details thereof need not be described. The shaft 50' which carries the threads 56, at its outer end rigidly carries a driving disc 61 in face-to-face relation with the sprocket `51. To drive the shaft, the disc 51 carries an eccentric spring pressed plunger 62 adapted to engage in a hole in the sprocket 51, the plunger 62 being manually removable therefrom to disengage the drive for the level wind device. Thus the level wind device 25 is driven from the same source of power as Vis utilized for driving the reel 24 and will be operated in timed relation therewith.

The level wind device 25 is provided with a guide chute 63 through which the stock passes to the guide block 60, and the stock as it passes through the chute 63 is adapted to be dried so that no cleaning solution will remain on the stock when it is reeled. To this end, an air hose connection 64 is mounted on the guide block 60 and communicates with a pair of curved nozzles 65 directing streams of air against opposite sides of the strip as it passes through the guide chute 63. The air thus directed onto the stock dries olf all traces of cleaning solution that may be carried upwardly by the stock.

As heretofore mentioned, the portion of the stock between the forming machine Ztl and the reel 24 is permitted to sag into the cleaning solution 22 and in the tank 23. So long as the sag in the stock is maintained, there will be no substantial tension placed on the stock by the reeling means. The sag in the stock, however, must be sufficient to cause a substantial portion of the length of the stock to dip into the cleaning solution. To maintain this condition, the drive means for the reel 24 is so controlled that a suficient sag will be maintained in thel stock to permit it to dip into the cleaning solution. Since it is difficult to cause the reel to operate at exactly the same rate as theV rate of discharge of the forming machine, the variable speed drive is adjusted to cause the reel to be operated at a slightly higher rate than the forming machine and the reel is momentarily stopped when the sag is insuflicient. A means is therefore provided which is actuated by a variation in the amount of sag, to control the rotation of the reel 24. Such means is highly sensitive to a change in the amount of sag so that it does not place any restraint on the stock that would increase the tension thereon materially.

In the present instance a photo-electric means is utilized to control the drive for the reel 24, and such photo-electric means is adapted to be energized and deenergized by means of a shield carried by a delicately balanced lever responsive to the amount of sag in the stock in passing through the cleaning solution. To this end, I provide a source of light mounted in a box 70 carried on the shelf 41 and provided with tubular lens means 71 adapted to direct a beam of light horizontally toward an opening 72 provided in a box 73 supported on one of the legs 27 opposite the box '7 0. Within the box 73 is a light-sensitive photo-electricv cell, indicated in dotted lines at 74 in Fig. 3. The light-sensitive cell 74 is adapted to control the current supplied the motor 40 in response to the beam of light from the source in the box 70.

In the present instance, operation of the motor 40 is stopped when no light is permitted to reach the photoelectric cell 74 from the source in the box 70, and when light does reach such cell from the source, the motor operates to cause rotation of the reel, The means responsive to the amount of sag in the stock in passing through the cleaning solution is provided with a shield which will intercept the beam of light to the photo-electric cell '74 when the amount of sag decreases t0 an extent where an insulicient length of stock dips into the cleaning solution. To this end, a at plate-like shield 75 is suspended on one end of a lever 76 which is pivotally supported by a rod 77 extending between two legs 27 of the table. The shield is so positioned that when it is lowered from the position shown in Fig. 3 it will intercept the beam and cause the motor 40 to stop, and when raised will permit the beam to energize the photo-electric cell 74 to cause operation in the motor 40 and hence rotation of the reel 24.

The lever 76 carries a rod 80 which extends forwardly towards the tank 23 and thence downwardly with its lower end portion dipping into the cleaning solution 22 in the tank. The lower end portion is adapted to engage the stock and in the present instance is formed into a loop 81 through which the stock passes. Thus, when the sag in the stock decreases, the loop 81 will be raised so that the shield 75 intercepts the beam of light to the lightsensitive cell 74 to stop the drive for the reel. The amount of sag in the stock thereupon immediately increases since the forming machine continuously feeds stock and the reel 24 is momentarily stopped. The increase in the amount of sag thus causes the lever 80 to swing downwardly and to move the shield 75 out of intercepting position with the light beam so that the motor 40 will again rotate the reel. In order to delicately balance the lever 76 With its rod 80 so that the slightest change in the amount of sag in the stock will swing the shield 75, a counterbalancing weight 82 is adjustably mounted on the rod 80 so that a minimum of force is required to swing the shield 75.

While the control of the motor 40 is highly sensitive to the amount of sag in the stock to avoid placing any substantial tension on the stock, the control is such that too frequent energization and de-energization of the motor is prevented. It was found that, if the motor were started immediately by an increase in the amount of sag of the stock after the motor had been stopped by an insufficient sag, the motor would be started and stopped too frequently, resulting in undue wear on the motor, the control or starter switch for the motor, and on the photoelectric cell 74. Moreover, the too frequent starting and stopping of the reeling means would cause the control rod 80 to bounce and would thereby tend to stretch the stock. With one of the forming machines with which the present mechanism has been used, the forming machine operates at a rate of 160 strokes per minute, and after each stopping of the motor, one stroke of the forming machine feeds suiiicient stock to increase the sag in the stock to the point where the photo-electric cell is re-energized. For this reason, a time delay is provided in the motor control circuit to prevent immediate energization of the motor.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have shown a wiring diagram for supplying current to the motor 40 and for controlling operation thereof. The motor 40 is adapted to be connected to a power line such as a 220 volt S-phase line indicated at 90. In the line 90, a manually operable disconnect switch 91 is provided. The latter is connected to the motor 40 through a magnetic starter 92 having a coil 93 connected to the control circuit and effecting opening and closing of the starter 92.

The control circuit is energized by a 110 volt line comprising the leads 94 and 95 which have a manually operable disconnect switch 96 connected therein. The coil 93 of the magnetic starter 92 is connected to one side of the 110 volt line, in this instance to the lead 95, by a branch line 97. The leads 94 and 95 are also connected by branch lines and 101 to the photo-electric cell and relay in the box 73 and extend to a lamp in the box 70 which constitutes the source of light for energizing the photo-electric cell 74.

The time delay in the motor control circuit is provided by a timer indicated generally at 102. The timer 102 includes a timer motor 103 which in this instance is connected by a line 104 to the lead 95 and by a line 105 to the photo-electric cell and relay, and the latter is adapted to energize the motor 103 whenever the photoelectric cell is subjected to light from the lamp in the box 70. The timer motor is adapted to close a normally open switch in the circuit for the coil 93 of the magnetic starter 92 after an adjustable period of delay. In the present instance, the timer motor 103 is shown as rotatably driving a switch arm 104 counterclockwise from a position in engagement with a stop 105 to a position where the arm 104 engages a xed contact 106. The iatter is connected to a contact 107 of a switch 110 by a line 111, and the movable member of the switch 110 is connected by a yline 112 with the coil 93 of the magnetic starter 92. The switch arm 104 of the timer is connected by a line 113 to the lead 94 of the 110 volt line. Thus, when the switch arm 104 engages the contact 106 and the movable member of the switch 110 engages` the contact 107 as shown in Fig. 5, the coil 93 is energized and the magnetic starter closes the circuit for the motor 40 to drive the reel.

When the sag in the stock decreases and the shield '75 shuts oi the beam of light to the photo-electric cell, the timer motor 103 is de-energized. A torsion spring 114 in the timer then rotates the arm 104 clockwise out of engagement with the contact 106, and the circuit to the coil 93 is thereby broken to stop the motor 40. The arm 104 is rotated clockwise by the spring 114 until it engages the stop 105. When the sag in stock again increases by the next operation of the forming machine and the light beam again energizes the photo-electric cell, the timer motor 103 is started but the main motor 40 is not started until the arm is rotated to the point where it engages the contact 106 to close the circuit for the coil 93. A idelay is thus provided by the time required for the arm 104 to move from the stop 105 to the contact 106. The position of the stop 105 may be adjusted to vary the time delay in starting the motor 40. When the arm 104 engages the contact 106, movement thereof as well as movement of the timer motor 103 is prevented, but the timer motor is of a type which may be stalled while energized without damaging the motor.

The switch 110 is utilized to provide for manual operation of the reeling means, as when setting up the device. To this end, the switch 110 is provided with a second contact 115 engageable by the movable member of the switch and connected by a line 116 to the line 113 which in turn is connected to the lead 94. Thus, when the movable member of the switch 110 is shifted to the contact 115, current is supplied to the coil 93 of the magnetic starter without having the timer in circuit.

With the foregoing structure, it will be evident that I have provided a cleaning and reeling mechanism which places no substantial tension on the stock and thus avoids any chance of stretching it. The stock is permitted to sag into the cleaning solution for a `suiiicient length to effect the desired cleaning and any decrease in the amount of sag will cause the motor 40 to stop and thus stop rotation of the reel 24. Since the stock is continuously fed from the forming machine 20, the sag in the stock will quickly increase and when there is suflicient sag, the motor is again `started for operating the reel 24. As the stock is wound on the reel, even llayers thereof are formed by the level wind device 2S so that no tangling of the 7 stock will occur. The stock is dried before being placed on the reel by means of the air jetsfrom the pipes 65. The time delay provided in thel control circuit for the motor prevents too frequent stopping and starting of the motor.

I claim:

1. A cleaning and reeling mechanism for stretchable strip stock fed continuously from a forming machine comprising an open top tank for cleaning solution adjacent the discharge of said machine, a rotatable reel mounted adjacent said tank on the opposite side from said machine, said tank being located so that its open top is below the levels of the discharge of saidmachine and the reel to permit the stock to sag-into the cleaning solution, drive means tor the reel for winding the stock thereon as it emerges from the cleaning solution, and control means for said drive means including a control member having a loop submerged in the cleaning solution and through which the stock passes, saidv control member also having a shield, and photo-electric means for controlling said drive means, said control member being counter-balanced and freely movable by the stock when the sag thereof decreases to avoid tension on the stock to move said shield. into deenergizing relation with said photo-electric means to stop said drive means and increase the sagin the stock and thereby hold the stock in the cleaning. solution.

2. A cleaning and reeling mechanism for stretchable strip stock fed continuously from a formingy machine, comprising an open top tank for cleaning solution adjacent the discharge of said machine, a rotatable reel mounted adjacent said tank on the opposite side from said machine, said tank being located so that its open top is below the levels of the discharge of said machine and the reel to permit the stock to sag into the cleaning solution, drive means for the reel for winding the stock thereon as it emerges from the cleaning solution, and control means for said drive means including a pivoted control member having a loop on one end submerged in the cleaning solution and through ywhich the stock passes, and a shield on its other end, said control member being counterbalanced to freely swing when the sag in the stock changes, and photo-electric means for controlling said drive means and adaptedV to be deenergized by said shield to stop said drive means when the sag in the stock decreases and adapted to be re-energized by movement of said shield to start said drive means when the sag in the stock increases sulficiently for the stock to pass through the cleaning solution'.

3. A cleaning `and reeling mechanism for stretchable strip stock fed continuously with a step by step movement from a forming machine, comprising an open top tank for cleaning solution to receive stock as it is dis- 8" charged from saidl machine, a rotatable reel for withdrawing stock from the tank, said tank being located so that its open .top is below the levelsof the discharge-ot` said machine and the reel to permit the stock to sag-into the cleaning solution, drive means' forthe reel forwinding the stock thereon as` it emerges from the cleaning solution, comprising a drive motor having a driving connection with said reel, a circuit for supplying current thereto, and control means for said motor including a vertically movable control member adapted to engage the portion of the stock passing through said tank, said member being vertically movable in response to vertical movement of said portion, said control member being adapted to stop said motor on a predetermined decrease in the amount of sag, and time delay means cooperating with said control member to start said motor when the sag in the stock has Yincreased to a predetermined extent.

4. A cleaning and reeling mechanism for stretchable stri-p stock fed continuously with -a step by step movement from a forming machine, comprising an open top tank `for cleaning solution to receive stock as it isdischarged from said machine, a rotatable reel for withdrawing stock from the tank, said tank being located so that its open` top is below the levelsv of the dischargeV of said machine and the reel to permit the stock to sag into the cleaning solution, drive means for the reel for winding the stock thereon as it emergesfrom the cleaning solution,

comprising a drive motor having a driving connection with said reel, a circuit for supplying current thereto, and control means for said motor yincluding a control member adapted to engage the portion of the stock passing through said tank and movable in response to vertical movement of said portion, a shield carried by said control member, photo-electric means adapted to be de-energized by said shield when the sag in stock decreases with' the increase in sag due to one step of feeding movement of the stock reenergizing said photo-electric means, and timer means actuated in response to de-energization of said photoelectric means to open the motor circuit and having time delay means actuated in response to reenergization of said photo-electric means to close the motor circuit after a predetermined period of time to permit the sag in the stock to increase to the extent provided by a plurality of steps of feeding movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,357,118 Rowe Oct. 26, 1920 1,976,611 Gulliksen Oct, 9, 1934 2,043,354 Mallina .Tune 9, 1936 2,234,153 Herbert Mar. 4, 1941 2,661,009 Dunnegan Dec. l, 1953 2,682,997 Magnuson July 6, 1954 

